139 Parting

Li Yexuan left after I rejected him once again. I thought we would never meet again. They say farewells should be made early, lest when the actual parting comes, there is simply no time left. I locked myself in my room for an entire day, reviewing every single memory I shared with him, considering it a farewell conducted all by myself.

At that time, however, I did not realize that our story was not nearing its end, but merely just beginning.

Three days later, clad in plain white garments, I stood within the execution grounds. Zijun already wore the dragon robe, surrounded by civil and military officials standing behind him. Everyone had arrived, save for the baby. I had instructed Afu, Aling, and the four envoys to keep a close watch on him, forbidding him from stepping out of my bedchamber today.

The entire Murong clan was present at the execution grounds, though they were all prisoners, including Huangfu Xin—though he should perhaps be called Murong Xin. I had once considered sparing this child Murong Xin, but upon reflection, I decided against it, lest he pose any threat to Zijun’s realm. Our hands were already stained with blood; one more person made little difference.

After the official in charge of supervising the execution received Zijun’s nod, he shouted: "Execute."

The sound of blades falling marked a clean break. Not a single soul of the Murong clan was left alive.

As for the disposal of the other two families—the Du family and the Wang family—Zijun had been uncertain how to proceed. Zijun had already had members of both clans imprisoned in the celestial dungeon.

"Let us go. We shall go see some old friends together."

"Very well."

Zijun and I stepped into the celestial dungeon side by side. The twelve elite guards had now become overt protectors, with Ling Yi and Ling Er following closely behind our backs.

We did not venture into the deepest recesses of the dungeon; instead, we took our seats. Wang Huan, Du Qinglian, and Du Qingyun were brought out, along with Du Qingluo and Huangfu Yuan. Back then, Huangfu Yuan had departed for the Yuehua Kingdom, yet unexpectedly, after being rejected by Li Yexuan, she had simply been sent back—something only Li Yexuan would ever do. However, because Du Qingluo was the late Emperor's consort and Huangfu Yuan was my imperial younger sister, they had not been confined within this grim celestial dungeon, but merely placed under house arrest within the palace.

They knelt before us in this manner.

"I never knew you possessed such capabilities." Wang Huan's voice carried a chilling undertone; I could not decipher what manner of emotions he held.

"Whatever happened in the past can be considered my failure toward you, Wang Huan. Your error lies in allying with the Du family to oppress the legitimate imperial bloodline of our dynasty."

"Huangfu Zijun, do you truly believe that merely by virtue of your status as a princess, my husband would hold you in high regard? You are nothing more than a woman living her days while raising a bastard child—"

The first half felt inconsequential, but when Du Qinglian uttered the latter half, it exhausted my patience. The teacup I had been holding in my hand was hurled directly at her. Du Qinglian shrieked as it struck the center of her forehead, shattering the porcelain and causing a thin line of blood to trickle down her brow.

In a single instant, the kneeling Wang Huan made a sudden motion, and a poisoned needle flew from his hand, hurtling straight toward me. My body was yanked aside by Zijun. With a sweep of his ornate sleeve, he deflected the poisoned needle with the force of his palm, sending it spinning away to embed itself deeply into the stone wall.

The guards swarmed forward, pressing Wang Huan and the other four firmly to the ground. A single missed strike rendered them entirely powerless.

"Elder Sister, you have seen it yourself. They intend to take your life. Do you still intend to spare them?"

"No. You shall make the decision." Zijun was indeed far more suited to being an emperor than I; he possessed the ruthlessness required to mete out judgment.

"The Wang family and the Du family served the Murong clan and attempted to assassinate the Grand Princess. The entire clan shall be imprisoned and executed on an auspicious day. As for the virtuous consort Du Qing萝, she must surely yearn deeply for the late Emperor; we shall send her to join him. Bring Huangfu Yuan back to the princess's palace."

I paid no heed to the shrieks echoing from the depths of the dungeon as I walked out alongside Zijun. The lingering shock of the recent moment still gripped my mind; had Zijun not acted with such speed, that poisoned needle would have pierced straight into my body. Ling Yi immediately conducted an inspection and discovered another poisoned needle concealed on Huangfu Yuan's person, evidently prepared for Zijun.

"Imperial Brother, Huangfu Yuan cannot be left alive." I could not allow someone who might at any moment take Zijun's life to remain in this world.

"I know. I will handle this matter."

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and my younger brother quickly steadied my frame.

"What is wrong?"

"I was merely startled just now."

"I shall escort you back to your bedchamber to rest."

"Mn."

"Elder Sister, from now on, allow me to protect you."

"Very well."

Not long after, news of Huangfu Yuan's sudden death spread. The Wang family and the Du family likewise met their end with not a single survivor.

For another ten solid days, I cast aside all affairs of state in the Lingyun Kingdom, acting truly as a carefree Grand Princess. Together with the baby, I explored the entire Lingyun Kingdom from end to end, sampling nearly every single local delicacy without missing a single one. Time and again, the baby would complain to me: "Mother, you've fattened me up like a little pig." Yet the very next second, upon encountering another delicious treat, he would charge toward it regardless of anything else.

"The baby has indeed grown much heavier, resembling his mother's little piglet." Carrying the baby back to the imperial palace as I did every day, I watched him rest his head against my shoulder, his large eyes blinking sleepily with a dazed expression.

"If you are tired, go to sleep. Mother is right here."

"Alright..." His voice grew terribly soft, and I knew he had fallen asleep.

I looked with mild surprise at Dongfang Qingyu waiting at the entrance of the princess's palace, appearing as though he had been waiting for quite some time.

"Carry the baby inside." I handed the child over to Afu.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"It is so late. What brings you here?" I walked up to Dongfang Qingyu.

"To freeload a meal." He smiled instead, strolling over to sit on a stone stool within the courtyard of the princess's palace.

I instructed Aling to prepare some refreshments and incidentally brought out a jar of grape wine. Aside from the two jars still buried beneath the cherry blossom trees, Li Yexuan ought to still possess one. As for this particular jar, after returning to the Lingyun Kingdom, Zijun had sent men to retrieve it legitimately from Wang Huan's estate. Yet to my surprise, he had handed it over to me without even tasting it himself—truly a rare occurrence.

Breaking the seal of the wine, I poured a cup for Dongfang Qingyu.

"Truly fine wine. You actually had the heart to spare it for me."

"Indeed. Such exceptional wine naturally belongs in the hands of a kindred spirit."

A flicker of astonishment crossed Dongfang Qingyu's eyes.

"Zijun's capabilities are formidable. In a mere ten days, the court of the Lingyun Kingdom has undergone a complete transformation, and your imperial uncle has retired into seclusion," Dongfang Qingyu remarked, popping a seasoned peanut into his mouth.

"My imperial uncle has never possessed any grand ambitions. As long as he behaves circumspectly, his status as a member of the imperial clan will provide him with more than enough luxury for the rest of his days."

"Perhaps people are better off living somewhat obliviously."

"Very well, drink a little less. This wine carries quite a punch." I reached out and took away Dongfang Qingyu's cup—whichever number it happened to be—refusing to let him drink any further.

「You are truly stingy.」

"Qingyu, I know. Those one hundred thousand troops were what you traded for with your lifelong happiness." I looked at Dongfang Qingyu with utmost seriousness, and his smile faded as well.

I had long since received intelligence that Dongfang Qingyu had acceded to the request of the ruler of the Beian Kingdom, taking the prime minister's daughter, Liu Yan, as his consort.

"I had thought I could keep it from you longer."

"The Crown Prince's Consort is a fine person; she is worthy of you. For all these years, you have traveled tirelessly for me and the baby. If you can find happiness, I am genuinely glad. Do not sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of someone like me whose days are numbered. Dongfang Qingyu, if you remain utterly alone for the rest of your life, I will feel sorrow as well."

"As long as you are well, nothing else matters?"

"As long as you are well, I am well."

My response was resolute, and Dongfang Qingyu pulled me into his embrace. That night, we lingered beneath the moonlight through the hours, and Dongfang Qingyu seemed to speak to me of everything he had ever wished to say in a lifetime, while the jar of grape wine was nearly emptied to the last drop.

When morning broke, I found myself slumped over the stone table, a garment draped warmly across my shoulders.

"You are awake."

I saw Dongfang Qingyu approaching with a tray of morning provisions, setting them down upon the stone table. Taking a closer look, I noticed he had already changed into fresh attire.

"Go wash up and partake in the morning meal."

"Very well."

I returned to my chambers to change into formal court robes, and finding the baby awake, I brought him along.

"Godfather."

Dongfang Qingyu caught the small figure, lifting him onto his lap as he began to feed him breakfast.

"Godfather must depart tomorrow."

The baby's small mouth instantly pouted.

"Godfather, where are you going?" The baby's tiny hand tugged at his godfather's sleeve.

"To the Beian Kingdom."

"Will Godfather come back to see the baby? Will you leave without a word just like Father did?" The baby's words brought two tears to my eyes, which I hastily wiped away, though the gesture did not escape Dongfang Qingyu's notice.

"Godfather will return, and often at that. While Godfather is away, you must listen to your mother."

"Alright, let us pinky promise."

A large hand and a tiny hand hooked together, and I smiled with profound contentment.

That evening, Zijun hosted a banquet to bid farewell to Dongfang Qingyu. With my special permission, the baby stayed by Dongfang Qingyu's side the entire time, even scampering off to sleep in his quarters that night.

During the banquet, Auntie and Guteng also made an appearance. Zijun seized the opportunity to announce their status; Guteng was conferred the title of King Teng of the Lingyun Kingdom, while I was officially titled Imperial Grand Princess, specifically the Gulun Princess.

"I am leaving." Taking advantage of the moment when the baby was fast asleep, Dongfang Qingyu came to find me once more.

"I know."

"Zijun, over all these years, even if I have not completely unraveled your thoughts, I could perceive a glimpse or two. Between you and him, it has always lacked merely a single word from you."

I shook my head. "Things are different now."

Both Dongfang Qingyu and I knew that after Li Yexuan left, he had welcomed beauties from all directions into his manor until the Prince Xuan Mansion was overflowing with residents.

"Perhaps he is simply angry with you."

"It no longer matters." Perceiving that I had no desire to speak further on the matter, Dongfang Qingyu pressed no more.

When Dongfang Qingyu departed the following morning, the baby wept bitterly.

"Perhaps I shall not go after all." Dongfang Qingyu, clad in full military armor, gathered the weeping baby into his arms.

"How can you turn back now? Be a good boy and cease your tears; Godfather will return."

With one hundred thousand troops stationed right behind Dongfang Qingyu, his departure was no trivial matter.

"Come, Uncle shall hold you." Zijun stepped forward to take the baby, while Guteng pressed a rattling toy drum into the child's hands.

The baby instantly broke into a smile and quipped, "Great Uncle, you are truly childish, still playing with such things."

Exchanging final wishes for each other's well-being, Dongfang Qingyu vaulted onto his horse and led the massive army away. I stood atop the unyielding city walls, holding the baby in my arms, and watched until his silhouette vanished completely from sight.